ICRC: Response to needs of armed conflict victims less effective now

KUALA LUMPUR: The ability of humanitarian organisations to respond to the overwhelming needs of victims of armed conflicts is more constrained and less effective than before, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Armed conflicts are becoming more complex and worsened further by social media, said ICRC Director General Yves Daccord, who presented a talk on humanitarianism at the HRH Sultan Nazrin Shah Lecture series today.
"A lot of nations have voiced growing concerns about national security as significant numbers of their nationalities are joining militant groups like ISIS. Fears of extremism have taken root on their home soil as social media provides an avenue to radicalise and recruit young people," he added.
Daccord urged these organisations to be much more innovative and resourceful as the globe is becoming more connected, adding that humanitarians need to adhere to the principals of humanity and impartiality in order to respond in a relevant way to the greatest number of people as rapidly as possible.
He also said there is still no convergence on an international level to deal with other global issues like Ebola, climate change, migration and pandemics and also conflicts around the world.
"We have to have a global response, what we are seeing now is a lack of common interest," said the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizuddin Shah also attended the talk which was organised by Mercy Malaysia.